Sylvester Barzey

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Let’s see, I’m in the United States Army, I’m coming up on eight years in October. It’s kind of cool and sad, because I’ll be parting ways with the military due to an injury. This injury keeps me off my feet a lot but lucky for me, I get to write. I’ve published four books and I’ve been in four anthologies. I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book that’s out is “Planet Dead One Shot: The Briggs Boys”, it’s kind of a prequel to Planet Dead and it was something I made for my fans. I enjoy writing, so I write short stories and books that tie in with my series just for them. It was free for a year or so and now it’s on sale, I have two other projects that I’m working on, “Planet Dead 3” Which is somewhat inspired by The Jonestown Mass Suicide and The Realm, which is like Vampire Diaries meets Harry Potter.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I know of, I like to make a playlist for every project I’m working on. The music keeps me in the tone of the book. I also cast my books like a movie and use actors to help me invision the characters, but I think everyone does that, right?

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Bobby Adair’s “Slow Burn” turned me on to the post-apocalyptic genre, before then, I always loved zombies, but mostly in movie form. After reading “Slow Burn” I told myself I have to write something like this, something that will just grab a person and not let them go. So I guess he’s a pretty big influence on me.

What are you working on now?
I’m working on a YA fanatasy called The Realm, which is about a young girl who is the key to saving a magical Realm from a dark overlord. She has three boys who have come to bring her back to The Realm, but not only does she not want to go with them, someone else is trying to get her as well, and they’re willing to use deadly force to do so. I’m also working on Planet Dead 3 that picks up with Catherine a few months after book one, she’s now in New Orleans and she’s about to risk it all to save her son (Jordan), Sue, and her brother in-law (Peter) but before she can put her life on the line, she has a few other lives that need saving and ending.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesome Gang! Duh! haha I like going into facebook groups and getting to know people, I do a lot of social media, to the point that my wife things I’m addicted and I guess she’s not wrong.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you want to read, if it’s a story you enjoy, I’m pretty sure someone out there will enjoy it too. As far as self-publishing, yes it cost a lot of money, but don’t let that be the reason you don’t start. Get started, do what you can and you’ll find a way to get everything else done.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Trust in the process, life is hard and this industry is hard, but as long as I continue to write and grow and trust in my work and the process, everything will be alright sooner or later.

What are you reading now?
Dread Nation, it is an awesome book. I love the twist on history and the genre, I can’t wait to see what happens at the end.

What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m gonna win a Stoker award and get one of my books made into a Blumhouse movie…I just got to pay my dues first.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A outdoor survival guide
A book about building boats
The Outsiders (Stay Golden)
One of those big ass Walking Dead Comic vols. haha

Author Websites and Profiles
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